Pillowy Soft Homemade Hamburger [or Sandwich] Buns

As much as I love cooking, I had never considered making my own hamburger or sandwich rolls. Like most people, I relied on the convenience of picking up my favorite “homemade-ish” buns from the store for burgers, chicken sandwiches, BBQ brisket, or pork—you name it.

That all changed when I finally gave homemade buns a try… and I couldn’t help but wonder, why did I wait so long?

I was blown away by how simple the process was, and nothing beats the pillowy softness of a freshly baked bun. Trust me, once you try making your own, no store-bought option will compare. Give it a shot and see for yourself!

Homemade Hamburger [or Sandwich] Buns

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Keyword: bread, Buns, Hamburger, sandwich

Servings: 8 buns

Ingredients

• 1 T yeast, instant
• 3 T sugar, divided
• 1 C water, lukewarm
• 3½ C bread flour can substitute with all-purpose flour if needed
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 2 T butter, melted
• 2 eggs, divided
• poppy or sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

• In a small bowl, mix the yeast, warm water, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let it sit for a few minutes to activate. The mixture should start to foam as the yeast becomes active.
• In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the flour, the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, and salt. Pour in the activated yeast mixture, along with the melted butter and 1 egg. Mix until the ingredients come together into a sticky dough. If the dough seems too dry, gradually add a little more water.

  Switch to the dough hook attachment and knead the dough on medium speed for 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
• Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, then cover it with plastic wrap or a slightly damp towel. Allow it to rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 60 to 90 minutes.
  
• Punch down the dough and gently knead it to release any large air bubbles. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions, shaping each into a ball. Place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between them. Let them rise again for 30-40 minutes.

  Preheat oven to 375℉.
  
• In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg by hand and whisk in 1 tablespoon of water. Brush the tops of the dough balls with the egg wash, then sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds if desired. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the buns cool completely before slicing.